News Podcast | April 2022 | Easter challenges: Covid lockdowns, port congestion, war – and a lack of slots and flights

The lesson of this Easter episode is: ‘do not put all your freight eggs in one basket’.

Supply chain disruptions covered include the implications of more Covid lockdowns in China, port congestion and what war in Europe is doing to air charter markets.

We have the latest air and ocean freight rates, and we hear how SME forwarders are struggling to buy space from carriers. And, will Gefco be the next acquisition by a European container line, following MSC’s deal to take over Bolloré Africa Logistics?

Guests

Glenn Hogben, CEO of the Air Charter Association

Peter Sand, chief analyst, Xeneta

Chris Higgins, commercial director at forwarder AFS Global

Mike Wackett, The Loadstar‘s sea freight correspondent

Episode in more detail

Bolloré Africa – and now Gefco up for grabs. Who will bid? (1.00)

Lockdowns in China – implications (6.30)

Ripple effects; port congestion (9.20)

Carrier strategy in northern Europe (18.50)

War and the state of air charter markets (21.10)

How does air cargo get back to ‘normal’? (28.40)

SME forwarders: the forgotten liner customers (31.26)

The end of customer loyalty? (33.43)

Container charter markets (42.00)

P&O/DP World: the biggest PR fumble in history? (43.50)

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Air freight rates data provided by TAC Index – helping clients make the best air freight decisions

Sea freight rates data provided by Xeneta – the shipping industry’s most accurate source of container rates

Credits: created, produced and hosted by Mike King